Glass feeder



L. D. SOUBIER v Feb. 2, 1932.

GLASS FEEDER Filed Oct. 14. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet abtoznag Feb. 2, 1932. 1 D. soUBlER 1,843,249

4 GLASS FEEDER File-d oct. 14. 1927 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Feb. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEONARD D.A SO'UBIER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO :OWENS-ILLINOIS GLASS COM- PANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO GLASS FEEDER Application filed October 14, 1927. Serial No. 226,056.

The present invention relates to improvements 1n apparatus for feedmg molten glass which isto be separated into mold charges for delivery to ware forming molds.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel type of glass flow regulator which also functions to effectively stir and thereby commingle the glass in proximity to the outlet orifice of a container with which the regulator is associated. Y l

Another object is to provide exceptionally effective means cooperating with the flow regulator to push back and thereby permit reheating the chilled stub of glass ordinarily projecting from the orifice immediately following severance of a mold charge. Thus, the feeder provides for maintaining uniformity of temperature and viscosity in the glass delivered to the molds of forming machines Iand thereby contributes materially to the production of quality ware.

Y A further object is to provide novel means to control the movements of the flow regulator and provide for quick and accurate adjustment thereof as required by peratin conditions.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a feeder constructed in accordance with the present invention. n A

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional elevation showing another form in which a plunger is substituted for the sleeve type regulator.

The glass 5 is delivered through an opening in a furnace or tank 6 to a lateral extension or boot 7, and thence through a bottom outlet, orifice 8 from the walls of which formed charges are periodically Suspended for severance by shears 9. These severed chargesdrop into shaping molds 1() at regular intervals.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the glass ow regulator and stirring device comprises a refractory tube or sleeve 11 projecting downwardly through an opening 12 in the which said reduced end is fitted and held byv pins or the like 17. This holder 16 is journalled in a vertical bearing 18 formed at the louter end of a bracket 19 extending forwardly from a supporting beam 20 as shown in Fig. 2. A stud 21 extending upwardly from the tube holder 16 (Fig. 2) extends through a Collar 22 and is rotatively held 'therein by a locking ring 23 or the like.

This collar 22 is connected through a pair of links 24 to one end of a plunger reciprocating lever 25 (Figs. 1 and 2). This lever is fulcrumed to a suitable support such as an arm 26 extending upwardly and forwardly from the supporting beam (Fig. 2). This lever 25 carries a cam roll 27 at its free end for engagement with a rotary cam 28 fixed toa drive shaft 29 which is journalled in vertically spaced bearings 30 formed in the present embodiment on a substantially U- shaped frame 31. This shaft is rotated through a train of gears 32 by a motor 33 or the like prime mover. Thus, it is seen that' continuous rotation of the shaft 29 rocks the lever 25 and thereby causes vertical reciprocation of the flow regulating tube 11 axially of the path of discharge of glass hrough the outlet orifice 8.

The tube 11 is continuously rol ated to stir the glass and assist in glass flow `ontrol by providing a bevel gear 35 riding on ball bearings 36 which space said gear from the shaft bearing 18, said gear being splined to the tube holder 16 as shown in F ig. 2 and running in mesh with a pinion 37 on the inner end of a continuously rotating shaft 38. This shaft 38 is journalled at its inner end in a bearing 39 formed integral with the arm supporting the tube bearing 18 and at its outer end in the bearing 40 formed on the frame 31 intermediate the bearings 30 in which the vertical shaft 29 isjournalled.

This shaft 38 is rotated by the vertical into the cup proper.

tacting with a drive disk 42 splined to the vertical shaft 29.A A yoke 43 is connected to the drive disk 42 and is threaded upon an adjusting screw 44 which is journalled 1n spaced bearings 45 and rotatable by means.

of a hand wheel 46 to change the position' of said4 drive disk relative to the axis of the driven disk 41 to thereby change the speed of rotation of the shaft 38 and the flow regulating tube 11. Thus, it is seen that the rotary speed of the flow regulating tube 11 is readily variable without interfering with or in any way changing the extent or speed of reciprocation of the regulator 11. Also, it is to be noted that this adjustment may be obtained without stopping or in any way interfering with operation of thc-feeder.

Cooperating with this flow regulator, is a pressure cup 48 mounted on the outer end of an arm 49 which, at proper intervals,f

swings the cup inwardly and upwardly to cap or close the lower side of the outlet orifice 8. This cup 48 may well be of the wellknown Tucker & Reeves cup construction and formed with achamber 50 connected to a fiexible pipe 51 through which a combustible gas is delivered to the chamber and thence This cup, which is brought into capping position just following each charge severing operation, cooperates with the regulator in retarding the outward flow of glass through the outlet orifice 8 and exerts an upward pressure which tends to push the chilled stub of glass upwardly through the orifice where it may be reheated. In operation, the fiow regulating tube 11 1s reclprocated to alternately accelerate and outlet bushing, gas in the chamber 50 is ignited to thereby apply upward pressure to the stub oflglassprotruding from the outlet ,orifice. Substantially simultaneously with this application of pressure, the tube 11 is moved upwardly to thereby exert an upward pull on the glass in proximity to then outlet and thereby assist the pressure cup in retarding ,the glass flow and pushing back the stub of glass which, as is well understood, is usually more or less chilled due to'contact with the shears 9. Thus, it is evident that the glass feeder illustrated pro-- vides for maintenance of the glass in the best possible working condition and insures uniformity of temperature throughout the issuing glass.

In Fig. 3, a solid plunger 55 is substituted for the tubular flow regulatoryll, this plungerl being -mounted in an arm 19 for rotation and reciprocationby a mechanism similar to that above described in connection with the form shown in Figs. 'l and 2.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a glass feeder, a container fora supply body. of molten glass having a bottom outlet orifice, a flow regulating member proljecting into the glass over and in axial alignretard flow of'glass through the outlet orifice f 8 for suspension from the walls of the bushing in the shape of formed charges which are severed bythe shears 9 and then delivered by gravity to thermolds 10. The speed of reciprocation, as is apparent, will be determined by the fluidity of the glass, and shape, size of, and speed at which, the chargesare to be formed. Theseconditions obviously vary with different types of ware being produced. In order to \'-commingle the molten glass in proximity to the' outlet and thereby maintain uniformity of temperature and viscosity throughout the glass in proximity to the 'outlet orifice and in the charges delivered to the molds, the tube 11 is rotated continuously at a speed determined 'by the temperature and general condition of the glass. Immediately following severance of a charge of glass and just prior to initial upward movement of lthe fiow Iregulatingtube 11, the pressure cup 48 is swung inwardly and upwardly into Vcapping position relative to the orifice 8. Simultaneously with seating of the cup 48 against the lower side of the ment witlr said orifice, means to reciprocate said regulator, means to rotate the regulator, a single driving mechanism for the regulator reciprocating and rotating means, and a manually controlled device adjustable without interfering with operation of the feeder to vary the rotary speed of the regulator independently of reciprocation thereof.

- 2. In a glass feeder the combination of a container for molten glass having a bottom outlet orifice, a fiow regulating member projecting into the glass over said orifice, means to reciprocate and rotate said member, said means 'including a continuously rotating shaft, a cam carried by Saidshaft, means interposed between said cam and regulating member whereby rotation of the former leeiprocates said member,- additional means interposed between the shaft and regulating member to transmit'rotary movement to said member, and meansto adjust said last named means to change-the speed of rotation of said regulating member independently of' its speed of reciprocation andwithout interfering with operation of the feeder.

Signed at Toledo,\in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, this llthd-ay of October, 

